Disk harrow.



W. FETZER.

DISK HARROW.

APPLICATION FILED DEc.29. I9II.

,2 L32@ Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. FETZER.

DISK HARHOW.

APPLICATION man nEc.29. 19H.

Patented Oct. 15, 191g 3 SHEETS`SHEET 2.

W. FETZER.

DISK HARROW.

APPLICATION mio Dc.29. 1911.

1,281,324. Patented oct. 15, 19m

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Y course is expensive and UNIT@ STATI rentrant* operen WILLIAM FETZER, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

msi; Hannow.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. 15, 1918.

Application filed December 29, 1911. Serial No. 668,536.

field, in the county of Sangamon and State` of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Disk I-Iarrows, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

rlhis invention relates to in disk harrows.

In disk harrows.` four harrow sections have been used, such section being arranged in two pairs, one behind the other, and means have been conveniently provided for angular horizontal adjustment of the sections of each pair.

Modern practice has recognized the advantages of double disking the ground, that is to say, rst disking the ground in one way and then disking it in the opposite way. This practice is quite generally followed at the present time. Although several machines have been exploited which purport to successfully enable the accomplishment of this result, they have never proven generally satisfactory, and hence the general practice at this time is to use two machines disking one way and then to cross or reverse the work. Necessarily such a one of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a strong and durable harrow of such a construction as will render it possible to properly double disk the ground with a single machine. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a disk harrow for double disking the ground by throwing the dirt in one direction with the front disks and then redisking the dirt by throwing it back again in substantially the opposite direction with the rear disks, the rearward disks being positioned to work between the paths eut by the forward disks and being held at all times in substantially a horizontal position, thus enabling the proper disking and leveling of the entire surface of the ground.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a disk harrow of this type which is provided with a rigid frame adapted to support the driver and which is so disposed relatively to the harrow sections as to distribute the weight of the frame and driver upon all of such sections.

A further object of the present invention an improvement is the provision in a harrow of this character, of a main frame which is so connected to all of the harrow sections as to equally distribute the weight of the frame and the driver thereto in combination with means for connecting the harrow sections to the main frame in such a manner as to permit the machine to operate efliciently on rough as well as on level ground.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a harrow of this character, of a pair of forward harrow sections which are so supported on the frame as t'o be capable of a limited vertical movement, thus enabling such sections to work into rough or uneven ground, in combination with a pair of rear harrow sections which are so supported on the frame as to be held against substantial movement in a vertical plane so that the rearward harrow sections will level off the surface of the soil pulverized by the forward sections'.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a harrow of this character in which the main draft or pull is from axles of the several harrow sections and so relieving the frame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a harrow of this character which can be readily transported from place to place when not in use.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention is illustrated and wherein like characters of reference refer to similar parts in the several views:

In the drawings:

Figure 1' is a perspective view of a harrow constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan lview of the rear end of the harrow showing the rear cross beam and the manner of attaching the rear harrow sections thereto;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the harrow` parts being broken away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a cross section through the longitudinal beam of the harrow just in front of the rear harrow sections, such rear harrow sections being shown in elevation;

Fig 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of one of the harrow sect-ions showing the manner of connecting the same to the main frame, and

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the oonstruction of one of the trucks which are used when it is desired to transport the machine from place to place.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of one of the bearing blocks at the end of one of thc cross beams of the frame. p,

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the connection between the hounds F, and the bearings d.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the machine is provided with a rigid frame which overli'es the barrow sections and comprises a longitudinally extending beam A anda pair ofV Vseparated parallel cross beams B B, which are rigidly secured to the longitudinally di'SpOSGll beam A interl mediate' the ends therco'f. The cross beams B B, one of which is secured to the lo'ngit'uL dinal beam'A adjacent the rear end thereof, and the other of which is secured toi/ the longitudinalbe'am A at some distance from the front end thereof, may be of Lany desired construction. In the form of theinvention illustrated in the drawings, each of saidl cross beams comprises a pair of spaced steel bars b b between the outer ends of which are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured blocks b for a purpose to be hereinafter' more particularly set forth. Any suitable means may be employed for rigidly securing the cross beams to the longitudinal beam A, and in the form of the invention illustrated in lthe' drawings, suitable castings C C are rigidly secured to thc beam A for this pir'pose, which castings are provided with portions c c' which project upwardly therefrom and fit between the side bars of the cr'ss beams B B and are bolted or otherwise rigidly s'ecured thereto. Supported by the front cross beam B are a pair of transversely disposed disk barrow sections D D and supported by the rear cross beam are apair of transversely disposed harrow sections E E. Each of they harrow sections just referred to comprises an axle D upon which is mounted the disks which may be of any well known construe# tion, and a frame D2 which directly overlies the axle and is provided with rigid supports D3 depending from the ends thereof; the lower ends of which supports' are provided with suitable bearings which loosely embrace spools d mounted on the axle of the harrow section. The disks of the forward harrow sections arey preferably mounted on the axles of such sections with the concave faces thereof outside, while the disks of the rear sections are preferably secured on the axles of said sections with their convex faces outside and the relative arrangement of the several sections is such that the disks of the rear sections will workin paths intermediate the disks of the front sections. The frame D2 of each of the barrow sections is provided at the outer end thereof with a yoke D4 which is of a size to embrace the outer end of one of the cross beams B B. The yokes D4 of the frames D2 of the front barrow sections -D D engage the ends of the front cross beam B and are secured thereto by bolts d? which pass through the yokes and slots b3 formed in theblocks 7) which are secured to the outer ends of said front cross beam. The slots Z2? extend longitudinally of the cross beam B and the size of the bolts (Z2 and the slots are so proportioned relative to each -other thatl suflicient play is allowed between the parts to permit the front harrow sections to turn freely on the bolt cl2 horizontally, and to have a limited pivotal movement on the bolt (Z2 in a transverse vertical plane;

This construction also permits the front harrow sectins tohave a limited endwise movement or to shift bodily transversely of the frame, so that in' action the adjacent ends of the front sections will bump orY roll together, thus relieving the end thrust or strains caused by thev two front harrow sections having the disks thereof supported wit-h their concave faces outside. To prevent wear on the adjacent disks of the front sections,- by reason of such bumping or roll-l ing, the ends of the axles are provided with convex bumpers or washers d4 which 4overle L the adjacent faces of the' innermost disks.

The front barrow sections are free to move vertically only in a downward direction, the inner ends of the frames of said sections being provided with segmental plates als which directly nnderlie the front .cross b ar Bof the main frame, thus preventing the inner ends of the front sections wardly beyond their normal positions. The yokes (Z4 of the frames of the rear harrow sections fit over the ends of the rear cross beams B andare connected thereto by bolts b3 formed in the blocks b secured in the ends of such rear cross beam, such construction permitting the rear section to be swung laterally in a horizontal plane.

Each of the frames D2 of the barrow sections is provided with a transversely disposed scraper supporting bar D5 vwhich extends transverselyV of the barrow sections and from which depend a plurality of disk Scrapers, which may be of any suitable construction, there being one such scraper for eachV of the disks.

The outer portions of the forward disk sections are connected to the forward por-Y tio-n of the longitudinally extending beam A of the frame, by houndsl F vF, the forward ends of such hounds'being pivotally connected in any* suitable manner to the beam A adjacent the' front end thereof and the rear ends of such hounds being pivotally` con'- ne'cted in any suitable manner in the axles of ,the forward barrow' sections adjacent the outer ends thereon As a conven'ent method from moving upof connecting the rear ends of such hounds to the harrow sections, the bearings el at the lower ends of the supports D depending from the outer ends of the frames D2 of the forward harrow sections are provided each with a pair of horizontally disposed spaced ears Z5 between which the rear ends of the hounds F F are pivotally supported. The outer ends of the front harrow sections are also connected to the outer ends of the rear harrow sections by means of hounds G G the forward ends of which are pivotally connected in any suitable manner to the axles of the front harrow sections and the rear ends of which are pivotally connected in any suitable manner to the axles of the harrow sections. The forward ends of the hounds Gr G are conveniently pivoted between horizontally disposed ears (ZG which project laterally from the rear of the bearings cl formed at the end of the rigid support D3 depending from the outer ends of the frames D2 of the front harrow sections, while the rear ends of such hounds are conveniently pivoted between similarly formed ears Z7 which project forwardly from the bearings Z formed at the lower ends of the rigid standards D3 depending` from the outer ends of the frames D2 of the rear harrow sections.

Pivotally supported upon the longitudinally disposed beam A between the front cross beam B and the front end of said longitudinal beam, is an upstanding lever H, the lower end of which extends below the longitudinal beam A and is connected by suitable links I l to the inner ends of the axles of the forward harrow sections D D. The forward ends of the links I l are pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever H in any suitable manner and the rear ends of said links are conveniently pivoted between horizontally disposed ears l which project forward from the bearings CZ at the lower ends of the rigid standards D3 depending from the inner ends of the frames D2 of the forward harrow sections D D. A suitable rack is provided on the beam A and the lever H is provided with a suitable pawl. for engaging said rack so that the lever may be held in any desired position of adjustment. From the construction just described it will be seen that by manipul'ating` the lever H the front harrow sections D D may be simultaneously set at any desired angle and held in this position, and that by reason of the employment of the links l l the freedom of the front harrow sections to adjust themselves vertically to any irregularities in the ground, is not in any way interfered with regardless of the positions to which they may be adjusted by the lever H.

The cross beams B B are connected at their central port-ions, by suitable steel brace bars K K which are positioned one upon es-Ch side of the longitudinal beam A of the frame, the rear ends of said brace bars being inclined inwardly, as at l', toward the longitudinal beam A of the machine, for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly set forth. Pivotally supported upon the brace bars K K are a pair of upstanding levers L L the lower ends of which project below said brace bars. Links L pivotally connect the low r ends of the levers L L with the inner ends of the axles of the rear harrow sections E E the rear ends of said links being conveniently pivoted between horizontally disposed ears which project forwardly from the bearings d at the lower ends of the rigid supports D3 depending from the inner ends of the frames D2 of the rear harrow sections F Each of the brace bars K l is provided with a segmental rack K2 and each of the levers L L is provided with a detent which is adapted to cooperate with one of said racks, so that the levers may be maintained in any desired position of adjustment. From this construction it will be seen that by means of the levers L L the rear harrow sections may be set at any desired angle and that such sections may be adjusted independently of each other.

Projecting upwardly from the inner ends of the frames D2 of the rear harrow sections E E are hook members M M which are adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the rearwardly inclined portions l of the brace bars K l and the inclination of the portions K of said brace bars is suoli that the hook members M M will always rest upon said brace bars regardless of the position to which the rear harrow sections may be adjusted by the levers L L. lt will be seen from this construction that the rear harrow sections are freely movable in a horizontal plane thus enabling` them to be set at any desired angle? but that they are held against movement 'a a vertical plane. rlhis is an important feature of the invention as while the front harrow sections are mounted so that they can move freely in a vertical plane, thus enabling them to conform to the surface of the ground, the rear barrow sections are held against any such moveinenh in a vertical plane which insures the leveling of the soil which has already been pulverized by the front harrow sections. Supported upon the longitudinal beam A of the frame is a seat N for the operator which may be of well known. construction and from which the levers H and L L are readily accessible.

Secured to the front end of the longitudinal beam A of the machine is a tongue truck O from which extends the usual tongue.

From the construction hereinbefore set forth. it will be seen that by reason of the employment of the rigid frame, the cross beams of which directly overlie the harrow sections, the weight of the operator is distributed evenly to all of said sections and that by reason of the manner of connecting the sections to the rigid frame, the harrow will work With equal facility in rough or level ground.

It will also be apparent from the construction hereinbefore set forth that the harrow will be particularly efficient for double disking the ground in a satisfactory manner, since the front sections are so constructed that they will pulverize the uneven surface of the ground and throw the soil in one direction, while the disks of the rear sections working between the disks of the front sections will repulverize the soil and throw it back in the opposite direction and will by reason of the manner of supporting the rear sections, properly level the soil thus pulverized.

By reason of the employment of the rigid frame and the particularly constructed harrow sections associated therewith, I have produced a four-section harrow which can be readily transported from place to place by the use of harrowl transport trucks such as are illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings. When it is desired to transport the barrow from place to place, the rear sections are locked in alinement by means of the levers L L and one of the truck attachments such as is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, is secured to the axle of each of the rear harrow sections. The truck attachment itself forms` no part of the present invention but constitutes the subject matter of my Patent No. 843,671, and I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to describe the same in detail.

While a convenient embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that many changes may be made to the form and construction therein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a harrow, a pair of front harrow sections, a pair of rear harrow sections, a rigid frame, means for flexibly connecting the front harrow sections to the frame to permit of a limited pivotal movement thereof in vertical planes, means for holding the rear harrow sections against pivotal. movement in vertical planes, and a tongue truck supported by the f 'ame in advance of the front pair of harrow sections.

2. In a harrow, a pair of front harrow sections, a pair of rear harrow sections, each of said sections comprising a frame, a disk carrying axle supported thereby and positioned therebeneath, a main frame comprising a logitudinally extending beam and a pair of spaced cross beams rigidly secured thereto, means for flexibly connecting the front harrow sections at their outer ends to the outer ends ofthe front cross beaz'ns to permit of a. limited pivotal movement thereof in vertical planes, means for connecting the rear harrow sections to the rear cross beams and for holding the rear harroW sections iixed to the frame against vertical tilting movement, and atongue truck supported by the main frame in advance of the front pair of harrow sections.

3. In a harro'W, a pair of front harrow sections, a pair of rear harrow sections, each of said sections comprising a frame and a disk carrying axle positioned directly therebeneath, a rigid main frame for the frames of all of said harrow sections, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of the frames of said hai-row sections above the disk carrying axles thereof to said mainv rigid frame, hounds extending from the forward portion of the main frame to the outer ends of the axles of the front harrow sections, hounds connecting the outer ends of 'the front and rear ha 1row sections, a lever pivotally supported in said main frame in front of the pair of front harrow sections, the lower end of said lever extending below said main frame, links extending from the lower end of said lever to the inner ends of the axles of the front harrow sections, and adjustable connections between the main rigid frame and the inner ends of the axles of the rear harrow sections.

i. In a harrow, a pair of front harrow sections, a pair of rear harrow sections, each of said sections comprising a frame, and a disk carrying axle supported thereby and positioned directly therebeneath, a rigid main frame overlying the frame of all of said harrow sections, means for pivotally' connecting the outer ends of the frames of said harrow sections above the disk carrying axlesv thereof to said main rigid frame, hounds extending from the Vforward portion of the main frame, to the outer ends of the axles of the front harrow sections, hounds connecting the outer ends of the front and rear harrow sections, a lever pivotally supported in said main frame in front of the pair of front harrow sections, the lower end of said lever extending below said main frame, links extending from the lower end of said lever to the inner ends of the axles of the front harrow sections, a pair of levers pivotally mounted in said main frame in advance of the rear harrow sections, and links connecting said levers with the inner ends of the axles of said rear harrow sections.

5. In a harroW, a pair of front harrow sections, aI pair of rear harrow sections, each of said harro-w sections comprising a frame and a disk carrying axle supported thereby and positioned therebeneath, a rigid main frame for the frames of all of said harrow sections, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of the frames of said front pair of barrow sections to the main frame Where;-

by the front harrow sections may be swung laterally and the inner ends thereof are free to move downwardly, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections to said rigid main frame, to permit lateral adjustment thereof, means for holding the inner ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections against downward movement, draft connections extending forwardly from the main frame to the inner and outer ends of the axles of the frames of all of said harrow sections, the draft connections extending to the inner ends of said axles being adjustable to permit the harrow sections to be adjusted latern ally on their pivots.

6. In a harrow, a pair of front harrow sections, a pair of rear harrow sections, each of said sections comprising a frame and a disk carrying axle supported thereby and positioned therebeneath, a rigid main frame overlying the frames of all of said harrow sections, means for pivotall'7 connecting the outer ends ofthe frames of said front pair of harrow sections to the main frame, whereby the front harrow sections may be swung laterally and the inner ends thereof are free to move downwardly, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections to said rigid main frame to permit lateral adjustment thereof, means for holding the inner ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections against downward movement, hounds extending from the forward portion of the main frame to the outer ends of the axles of the front harrow sections, a pair of connecting the outer ends of the axles of the front harrow sections to the outer ends of the axles of the rear harrow sections, a lever pivoted in the main frame in advance of the pair of front harrow sections, links extending from said lever to the inner ends of the axles of the front harrow sections, a pair of levers pivoted in the main frame in advance of the rear harrow sections, and links extending from said levers to the inner ends of the axles of the rear harrow sections.

7. In a harrow, a frame comprising a longitudinally extending beam, and a pair of spaced cross beams rigidly secured to said longitudinally extending beam intermediate their ends, brace bars connecting said cross beams and positioned one on each side of said longitudinally extending beam, a pair of front harrow sections underlying the projecting portions of the front cross beam and pivotally connected thereto, whereby said frames have a limited movement in a vertical plane, a pair of rear harrow sections unfor derlying the rear cross beam, each of said rear harrow sections comprising a frame, and a disk carrying axle supported thereby, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of the frames of the rear harrow secticns to the rear cross beams, hook members extending from the inner ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections and overlying the brace bars connecting the cross beams to the main frame, and means carried by the main frame for adjusting the iner ends of the rear harrow sections laterally.

8. In a harrow, a frame comprising a longitudinally extending beam, and a pair of spaced cross beams rigidly secured to said longitudinally extending beam intermediate their ends, brace bars connecting said cross beams and positioned one on each side of said longitudinally extending beam, a pair of front harrow sections underlying the projecting portions of the front cross beam and pivotally connected thereto, whereby said frames have a limited movement in a vertical plane, a pair of rear harrow sections underlying the rear cross beam, each of said rear harrow sections comprising a frame, and a disk carrying axle supported thereby, means for pivotally connecting the outer ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections to the rear cross beams, hook members extending from the inner ends of the frames of the rear harrow sections and overlying the brace bars connecting the cross beams to the main frame, a pair of levers fulcrumed intermediate their ends upon the brace bars connecting the cross beams to the main frame, and links extending from the lower ends of said levers to the inner ends of the axles of the rear harrow sections.

9. In a harrow, a pair of front harrow sections, a pair of rear harrow sections, a rigid frame for all of said harrow sections, means for flexibly connecting the front harrow sections to the frame, said flexible connections permitting the front harrow sections to swing laterally and to move in a vertical plane, means for pivotally connecting the rear harrow sections to the frame whereby they can be swung laterally, means for holding the rear harrow sections against pivotal movement in vertical planes, means angularly adjusting the harrow sections, and a tongue truck supporting the frame in advance of the front pair of harrow sections. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM FETZER. Witnesses:

W. H. WESTON, J. S. CALDWELL.

nnpes of this patent may be obtained. for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

